MasterCard puts Utton in top role

MasterCard International has promoted Nick Utton to its top international marketing position.

Utton takes up the post of executive vice-president of global marketing following the departure of Joseph Tripodi to Seagram in March (MW March 11).

He has been promoted from his position as senior vice-president of marketing at MasterCard International’s US division.

The credit card association has 30 offices worldwide. Its products are marketed by local centres in the US, Asia/Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Canada and the Latin American and Caribbean regions. The global headquarters are in the US.

Utton’s appointment comes at a time of structural change at the company. It recently slashed its board from 31 members to 17 as part of a drive to centralise its decision making.

Meanwhile, MasterCard International chairman Robert Selander has announced a focus on key customers, prompting speculation that the company will turn its back on smaller credit-card issuers.

Selander says 70 per cent of MasterCard’s business comes from just 70 of the 23,000 credit card issuers which belong to the association.